The full podcast of this jointly presented conference is now available. The conference was hosted in mid-December by two of The Australian National University’s leading institutions in these fields – Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs and the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies,

The Syrian civil war has killed thousands and displaced millions, with dire economic, social and political implications not just for Syrians, but neighbouring countries, the region, and wider international community.
But what has caused the worst humanitarian disaster of our time? What do we need to know about the conflict’s dynamics? Who are the main actors and players? Where is it headed? Where to in the wake of the Paris attacks? And what should be Australia’s role be in all of this?

The one-day conference, The Levant Crisis: Syria, Iraq and the Region, tackled these essential questions and other critical aspects of the conflict.

Speakers included Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs Director and Professor of International Relations, Michael Wesley, and Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies Director and Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Amin Saikal.

They were joined by former Middle East ambassador and specialist, Mr Bob Tyson; expert on sectarianism, political Islam and studies of religious institutions, Dr Raihan Ismail; intelligence and security expert Dr John Blaxland; and Dr Haroro Ingram, an expert on insurgent ‘information operations’ and movements.

The papers presented at the conference were very well received and there was a great deal of interest in the papers following the event.

If you would like to hear one or more of the papers follow this link